Dal PhDer

Haha...I bet they have a bunch of chimps in a room full of typewriters doing up the award winner names

I was thinking...the fact the I am drinking and refreshing the page all day instead of driving into work really foreshadows my results...

There is not enough time to write an email between all the refreshing and wine glass filling.

They are probably watching the thread right now .... And evil laughing.

20 minutes until I drown myself in wine!

If my guess is correct, is my prize a CIHR award?

AHAHAHA! Crispers!?!! Actually....that wouldn't be THAT bad! I agree...we should petition for a change to their award system!

I almost didn't brush my teeth today....too much time away from my refresh button...

on another note- good luck to everyone today! I hope we are all smiling at the end of the day

I KNOW!! This is torture! I slept horribly....I dreamt that I was awarded it...but my application was so bad, they were only going to give me $500 over 3 years.

must...refresh...every...minute.....

my bet is 10:48am- Monday, April 16th, 2012. Nation-wide breakdown and riot of graduate students will be 10:52am- Monday April 16th, 2012. This is my problem- They are most likely NOT working over the weekend. So they have probably been sitting there since Friday at 5pm. Could they not just have pushed the button then!!!!?

Just think, our results are just sitting...out there in interweb space....

I am glued to my computer! I may have broken my refresh button!

I sometimes think that doing comprehensives as an exam format is the way to go! While I am sure it is beyond stressful, at least you get it done! I like how you spaced it out too...just enough time to feel prepared, but not enough to stress over it!! I can't even imagine the stress!!

I think this is an interesting topic, and there is certainly two different sides. I have had this debate with my professor- looking back I don't think I handled it as properly as I should! - and I stuck to my grounds. I see my PhD process as a time for me to learn and gain experience- I don't want this to be a rushed process where I am just there to do my courses, comps and dissertation. To me, it is important to build valuable skills and networks. I sought out a 5hr/wk RA position (on top of what my supervisor was giving me) so that I could experience qualitative work. To me, it's important to have experience outside of my traditional quant background- especially if I want to work outside of academics. Additionally, I took on a TA'ship, as this is extremely crucial experience if you want to teach at an institution. Also, my supervisor could only fund me until this March. For me, I wanted to secure additional work so that if I couldn't receive funding, I would have a source of income. I am not sure all supervisors realize the financial side of pursuing this degree. The other point I see in this thread is the fact that many students get taken advantage of. I know during my masters I was expected to work 10hr/wk unpaid for my advisor. I have also experienced during my PhD having to take on extra projects and duties, just because I am getting a stipend. This work often took me above the 15hr/wk that I was getting paid for. And even though I am no longer receiving a stipend, I still have to give free time to my lab- I call it "voluntold". I struggle with thinking it's just part of the process and 'paying your dues' and thinking - wow, this is really not right. In the end, it's important for you to do what you need to do. The PhD is YOUR journey and you need to make it fit into what you want out of it and still maintain a livelihood.

Thank you SeriousSillyPutty! Haha! Have you ever been able to make it up here? I also wish you the best of luck for the start of your program! You must be extremely excited! I think you have made a great choice in coming here before you start! I wish I had found this place earlier. Just reading the posts on here is both comforting and so informative! I completely see where you are coming from. It is a hard balance of just doing it and getting it done, and also working with something you are passionate about. It is a fine balance. My committee makes me feel like they want me to just get it done (they had a three year timeline which...I am failing horribly with!), but they also constantly question my interest in my topic. For example, I handed in a first draft of my comprehensive to my advisor, and instead of providing constructive feedback, he simple said he couldn't get through it because he didn't feel the passion. And I can understand that...I was funded from a project for the first two years, and it was that project that was going to be the basis of my dissertation. It was not what my background is in, and it was hard to wrap my head around some things because I had no experience and had to teach myself. While I really enjoy my supervisor and research, I was (am) at a point where I feel exhausted trying to prove my interest in a topic that was kind of "given" to me, and kind of doubt whether this is the right choice for me. I have also taken the last 2 years to get experience in other areas- which is much more important to me than my advisor- he really thinks my time should be focus 90% on my research. I really feel that working on projects (10hr/wk) learning different methodologies and building networks is important (when you get hired onto an academic position, the institution really looks at 'who else' you'll be bringing), and getting experience teaching is critical. I love research AND teaching, so I think a PhD is the right choice- I just need to re-evaluate the construction of my committee and my topic. This has become a long winded response- which is most just me writing all my internal debates! In the end- I see a lot of people on here doubting their choice, wondering if they should leave, and trying to figure out if they are happy. It does worry me that I am not fully enjoying my PhD and not as happy and excited about it as I feel I should. I am hoping that changing to a topic that is related to my background and is of interest to me will change that...but it is scary trying to figure out if I am displeased because this is the wrong choice for me, or if it is just some of the finer details of my program. I am hoping that changing things up doesn't come back to bite me!

Good luck to all you guys! (And maybe a little less luck to the other 1600 applicants.... ) I hope you all here great news tomorrow (or tonight- if we could be so lucky!)

For PDF editing and notes, I like PDF X-Change. I like the ability to highlight and take notes even on locked documents- and it's free. I have not really been accepting of Reference programs. However, I have begun using RefWords just because it's free through my university. I am actually surprised at how much easier it makes things and was sadly disappointed that I was resistant for so long. I also like the program called XMind for mapping out projects and papers. Prezi is a great free presentation creator. There is a learning curve, but it's a really neat way to deliver presentations and engaging lectures (especially to students). This is a great thread- it's always great to see how other students organize their work and what they find helpful!

This terrifies me! I haven't even gotten to my comprehensive defenses and I already feel my committee is judging me this way. I know they will be difficult...my advisor has already related the process of a PhD to that of 'culinary school'. [i hear it's a brutal environment!]...for those who have been through this process, does one just accept that you will be humiliated, and your competency squished to the size of a penny?

As others have said, I think it depends on your field and the structure of your program. My advisor has told all of his students that he expects 1 publication a year (first, second, or third author). I know a lot of people find it difficult during their first year to get papers published. I have heard some great advice on getting publications. 1) During your course work...try writing papers that you will submit for publication. You would be surprised at how a bit of extra work during your course can get you a publication. It doesn't have to be a research article, it could be a commentary even. But it is worth keeping it in the back of your mind when you are doing your courses. 2) Always have a side project. This can be really difficult if you are balancing TA work, RA work and course/dissertation work. I found it difficult, and I even let it slow me down a little. But asking your advisor or a committee member (depending on your discipline) if they have a dataset they are looking to get a publication or two from, is often a great way to get quick work out. A lot of faculty have data that they haven't gotten around to working with. Also, you would be surprised at the free datasets out there that you can do some quick analyses on and get a publication. 3) Submit to conferences that do published abstracts. This is a great way to beef up the CV, and while they're not as great as papers, they do count. 4) If you can make your comprehensive projects publishable papers- that's great! It's two birds with one stone! 5) Make your dissertation paper based....I think that's the most realistic thing to do. I have to admit, even though this advice seems easy, it is so difficult to get papers out there. It's really hard to balance all the work and still be successful publishing- especially if you're doing it in conjunction with a professor/advisor. It can take a lot of time. I have had a paper on my advisor's desk just sitting there for the past 6 months waiting for him to give the okay. I honestly think that if you're not in a lab that is a papermill, then it's super difficult for students. It's almost a ridiculous feat to accomplish during your first year.

oh my gosh...everyone has such adorable pets!!! I am not sure what I would do without my girl, Gemma! Honestly, there is something so special about a pet relationship!

What a fantastic topic. Personally, I feel it's something that is rarely addressed in the academic culture, or promoted to graduate students. I honestly believe that the process of graduate school can make anyone feel anxious, depressed, or blue. Constantly being criticized, evaluated, and having to always put yourself out there for these opinions can do a lot to your self-esteem and confidence. Not to mention the long hours of working, and not always having time to get the social and relaxing time in that you need for yourself to heal. I am in my second year, and last year I went through a really difficult time and realized that there are really important things to manage my emotions and chemicals. I exercised regularly, ate healthy, and was sleeping enough- and still suffered from extreme depression. Sometimes medication and counselling is the only thing to help you get through it and into a better place where engaging in daily healthy behaviours will help. Take advantage of the free services offered on your campus. I went to a campus counsellor, and it was such a relief to talk to someone who knows about the process of graduate school and who can really help you understand and handle the stress and overwhelming feels associated with this life choice. The key things I find that help me through this are: 1) Health eating and exercise- it really really does help. Aside from just going to the gym, setting on the bike and reading (which is just me time)...I take part in a co-ed recreational league. This is soooo great! I would recommend students doing this...it's both a social and physical activity that is so refreshing after a hard day. Also, eating healthy and getting good meals into you is important. 2) Having a good social circle and actually taking part in it. I Always have to check myself- it is soo easy to say "I am too busy", "Oh I have so much work"...but it is important to take time, and see your friends and family. That social interaction is just like 'therapy'. And it can put things into perspective for you. 3) Have YOU time. I am a very observational person, and tend to really think about what others think of me, conversations I had, etc. So I take time during the day for me so sit, and really think about how I am feeling. Thoughts are necessary feelings, they are moments...and really evaluating those moments as asking yourself if the critical thoughts you have about them are important. I often take this time to do something I enjoy, like read a book, go for a walk, or enjoy TV. I do this every day and it really helps me sort out my emotions and ideas. Graduate school is a stressful and hard experience- that doesn't mean it's not a happy, rewarding and pleasurable time. But make sure you set up systems in your life that help you get through the hard times. On a related note- I find the most difficult thing for me to do is keeping check of the hours I put in. This is when I find I get overwhelmed and burnt out. I tend to work during the days, evenings, and weekends. It's off and on, but I know I put in a lot more time than if I just decided to do a 9-5 M-F approach. How do others structure your work? Do you set times and say you won't work during them? I am trying to find a healthy balance...but I often find that if I take the approach of taking an evening or weekend off, I don't enjoy myself, because I feel like I should be working or think about what I need to be doing. If I integrate work and down time into every day, I almost find I enjoy my down time more...but it's also never enough to kind of recharge me fully.

Food is one thing that I try not to skimp on. But I am constantly trying to remind myself not so needlessly spend a few bucks on a coffee or lunch out. I typically stick to a quick breakfast: toast, poached egg, and a piece of fruit. Lunch is normally a salad, a few nuts, and a banana. And dinner is a mixture of whatever I have! I find a really easy thing to make (that's not too pricey) and carries well for lunch, is a turkey salad salad. Ground turkey ($5 per package, and normally makes 3-4 servings), season with chili powder, garlic, hot peppers 2 heads of lettuce 1 can of refried beans 1 bowl of home made salad (dash of lime juice, 2 tomatoes, 1/2 red onion and 1/4 bushel of cilantro) 1 Avocado I can get 4 servings out of it! I have to say that the only way I can eat healthy on a budget is to really prepare. I tend to make a big batch of something on the weekend to be my lunches during the week! I am also a lover of Costco (although, it's a treat to go there, because as someone else has said, it's the "$200 Club"!)

Mmmm...recreational reading. Right now I am reading a bunch of books- nothing like turning off at the end of a hard day with a smutty or easy reading book! 1)Outlander: I don't normally pick up romances...but dear god...I can't put this smut down! 2) Game of Thrones: I am on the third book of the series. However, I am saving it for after the second season...I have to stretch this gold out for as long as possible! 3) Maze Runner: I am just about to begin this 'tween' series...it was recommended to me as a 'if you liked the Hunger Games kind of thing 4) Health Graham: I picked up a few books from several of her series that I am looking forward to reading! Does anyone here use the site Goodreads? I actually find it's a great way to get book recommendations...and if I am feeling particularly in need of some out of school relaxation- join an internet book club...I feel the geek label already being placed on my forehead!